I have a very busy family with one 13 year o,d and three under sixes, one of them only 5 months old. S I love coming across cooking inspirations that take minuscule amounts of time. Squnches, thank you thank you thank you.

If ever you are feeling down, need a pick me up or just want to spoil yourself then here is the recipe for you. It is possibly one of the easiest recipes to do and I’m sure many of you if not all of you have these ingredients lying around in your kitchen.

I call it Heaven in a Mug and so do those who I have shared this simple recipe with.

You will need:

1 large mug

4 Tbl spoons of SR flour

4 Tbl spoons of sugar

2 Tbl spoons of cocoa powder

Mix these ingredients together really well in the mug, then you will need to add:

2 Tbl spoons of cooking oil, I much prefer sunflower oil

3-5 Tbl spoons of water, depends on the consistency you want.

Mix all these ingredients together in your mug, basically we are going for a chocolate cake mix consistency…

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Hanging Headboard Trouble

I wish I had a better grasp of figures but I don’t and it shows. I made an attemp at measuring and drilling the hooks to hold up my fabric headboard and guess what? Instead of 2 inches between top of mattress and headboard there’s what looks like a ten inch gap. How do I fix this without drilling again or lifting up the bed. **sigh**

I was thinking os sewing two large pillow shams or one long bolster pillow. Any suggestions for tutorials?

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Starting Young: Teaching Teens to Save Money

Even though I’m far from great at it, I’m really trying to teach my son to save earlier. I’m thinking right now that perhaps I’m not the only parent in this situation. My son is 13 years old and I think it’s the right time to have this conversation. Perhaps even too late.

D' Finance Bench

In the past few years, teenagers have earned billions of dollars with part-time and summer jobs.

Some have spent most of what they earned, while others saved most or even all of it for a big purchase, or for their college education.

Kids these days are becoming more and more aware of their family’s source of income and financial status. They apply these money-spending principles when they venture out on their own.

Thus, it becomes more of a parent’s responsibility to start “training” their teenage kids to use their money wisely.

Here are some ways on how you, as a parent, can teach your teens to save those hard-earned bucks:

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Teacher Appreciation Gifts And Such

I love giving little gifts to people. Don’t you?

I love the feeling I get when someone is surprised and happy with getting something nice unexpectedly.  But financially it’s just not practical to do it as often as I like. Or so it was before my DIY days. I’m pretty new to DIY myself, having started only about six months ago but one of my surprise finds was how cheap and easy it is to appreciate the people in your life if you’re willing to spend a little on imagination and time. Not even much time, possibly as long as an afternoon nap per project.

In the last three weeks I was able to gift one person each week, I just love it. Another surprise was how much people love receiving homemade gifts as opposed to store bought ones (HOW CONVENIENT).

In my blog reading I also discovered that Americans love giving what they call Teacher Appreciation Gifts. Can you think of more deserving people? I can’t. So I’ve taken to this wonderful custom with great enthusiasm. I think it’s a wonderful way to encourage the people who nurture and equip our children towards a bright future with opportunities.

Check out this month’s gifts.

Total cost: $8.50

(most of which went to the 400ml bottle)

My son’s teacher is surrounded by hormonal 12 and 13 year olds all day so I thought she, more than anyone deserved something nice. She got a handﾠsanitizer, wrapped in this pretty homemade concoction that I have no name for. I saw it on Julies blog and simply had to make one. Mine did not come out perfect because I’m terrible at sewing and have never painted fabric before but the teacher apparently showed it off to all her peers. That was a thank you enough for all my clumsy effort. Thanks to Julie for her tutorial. I’ll share mine soon but if you’d like to make one visit: A Less Than Perfect Life Of Bliss.

Total cost: $2.40

My daughters teacher at day care I have a closer relationship with and that always helps when you’re trying to pick a gift for someone. During one conversation she mentioned she needs to get a lampshade for her lamp in her bedroom so she can read in bed. I just happened to have a thing for them and whenever I come across them in my thrifting trips I can’t leave them behind. Especially because they cost like 2 dollars on average. Inevitably I end up with excess that I have no clue where to use. I covered this one last Friday with some fabric I’m using for a bed skirt and gave it to her when I picked up my kids. She was beside herself with pleasure. I’m of course am as pleased as punch. LOL

I made my girls chair bags for day care because I really abhore those dark denim ones that are emblellished with bias tape in primary colours. Its the only ones you get at retail stores. So off I went googling and found a simple tutorial at a local grocery, Pick n’ Pay website. I made several changes so I’ll post that as well very soon. My childhood friend loved my homemade bags when she saw them up on Facebook so this week I alsoone for her little girl. I haven’t seen my friend since our last year in high school (1996), she still lives in my hometown (Cape Town) but it feels so good to still be in touch with her. Thank God for Facebook. I’m double pleased to send this for LO.

I hope you are inspired to surprise someone or thank them too. The words are always good to hear but I think a little something homemade speaks even louder.

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I’M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE

I’ve been blogging for a while now, almost two years, on blogger and I’m so excited to have finally conquered by possibly unreasonable fear of wordpress.
I look forward to my new blogging project which is to get my DIY tutorials going and share my adventures with your world. So here’s to new blog friends and lots of DIY and crafting success.

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Amazing People on X-Factor

I’m usually an avid follower of all music oriented reality shows because I love  music so much. The one show I’ve been lax in watching though is X-Factor. I suspect because in my mind I still had the ideas of people swallowing slugs and lying in snake infested boxes. Not my seen.

The first time I realize things had changed was when I came across a You Tube video of this teacher. He absolutely blew me away.

Now I make a point of going on to check out what’s happening now and again. Today I came across such fantastic musicians I had to share with you in case you missed them. Im definitely keeping tabs on these to. I have to have their music.

First up is Jahmene Douglas. This little man just improved on my all time favorite song which is in itself perfection. This is a phenomenal singer.

I end this post with this delightful 16 year old who’s not only a brilliant vocalist but also an outstanding song writer as you’ll hear. Witness greatness.

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Striking Miners at Marikana

Business Report

South Africa is in mourning over a terrible tragedy that went on for about two weeks at a local mine (the Marikana mine). Miners have been on strike for better pay for what seems like forever now . It came to light during the strike that many were living in “”abject poverty”, earning approximately $1250p/m. Don’t worry I’m also still trying to figure out what the definition of abject poverty is if this amount falls under that description. 

The horror of this event though was the amount of violence involved and the way people got killed. Police are alleged to have gone on a rampage and people dropped dead or injured everywhere. Before the police opened fire, 10 had been hacked to death by the striking minors themselves and by the time the police were finished that number had increased to 44. 

I can’t imagine the pain and anger of those who lost their loved ones on both sides (miners and police). My heart goes out to them and I pray that God help them through this time of suffering. 

Mining is a cold, heartless business that cares only about the bottom line.  And I’m still asking myself, was this demand for an increase worth even one of those lives? Now political hyenas are using this tragedy to meet their own needs. Pointing fingers at whoever is in opposition, fuelling the fire to meet their own agendas. Not in the least bit concerned with helping resolve things.  It’s all been made into a travesty of ridiculous proportions. God help us.

The other things that really irked me today was reading an article from one of the local newspapers. I wasn’t irritated by the covering of the strike, I just  wish people wouldn’t sensationalize unsubstantiated statements”.

South Africa remains possibly the most unequal society in the world,- the black majority still faces a life of poverty and toil, if they are lucky enough to even find work; while the still largely white elite, enjoy a life more familiar to the suburbs of Atlanta or Los Angeles, than a country in which over the half the country’s citizens live below the poverty line, without access to basic services. Amandla Pub.

 South Africa is not “possibly the most unequal country in the world”. Does this writer person know how big and unequal the world is. Have they stepped foot just north of our country. Our neighbors both near and far don’t even bother to raise their voices because they know in their position they mean nothing to no one. Have they heard of places like India who are living far below the breadline, etc. I don’t condone what has happened by any means but I just wish some of these journalists wouldn’t give the world the impression that you can’t get worse than South Africa. When in fact we are a beautiful country that is working on its social ills like any other. That is simply malicious.

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Poetry Friday: The Tiger by William Blake

Some poems you fall inlove with because of the beautiful and creative use of words. 

Sometimes the poem itself even loses its meaning and wholeness because of how much the audience appreciates one aspect, such as the sound of the words in this case. 

I was watching the Mentalist the other day and the first stanza of William Blakes Tiger was recited by Patrick Jane whom I think is simply drool worthy by the way. 

Anyway it somehow stuck in my mind for days and a few days later having posted it on my Facebook wall someone commented that it was their most favourite nursery rhyme. Nursery Rhyme? Imagine that. I did this poem as part of my set-work in my senior year of high school. 

But when I read it again I realised on hindsight, that it was possible for it to have evolved into a nursery rhyme because those first lines are so beautiful mysterious and catchy. But it would really be such a pity of the reader never got to appreciate the depth of meaning and craftsmanship that went into the the rest of this poem.

What are you thoughts on it?

William Blake. 1757–1827 

 

TIGER, tiger, burning bright  

In the forests of the night,  

What immortal hand or eye  

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?  

In what distant deeps or skies         5

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?  

On what wings dare he aspire?  

What the hand dare seize the fire?  

And what shoulder and what art  

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?  10

And when thy heart began to beat,  

What dread hand and what dread feet?  

What the hammer? what the chain?  

In what furnace was thy brain?  

What the anvil? What dread grasp  15

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?  

When the stars threw down their spears,  

And water’d heaven with their tears,  

Did He smile His work to see?  

Did He who made the lamb make thee?  20

Tiger, tiger, burning bright  

In the forests of the night,  

What immortal hand or eye  

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

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My Resolutions List In Action

Yesterday I had a great break through.

I went out to do some wheelin’ and dealin for the first time in almost a year and came home with one signed and one verbal contract. 

I also made some good progress with my old networks telephonically and everyone seems to be keen on a working relationship between us again so I have some business meetings coming up.

I am ever so encounraged. I feel as though this really is a year for new beginnings for me. 

Last year this time it seemed nothing I tried business wise worked and if I remember correctly, I was saying the same things and presenting myself and my business in the same way. 

Maybe it’s because i’m making more effort communicate more with real people instead of my cyber world, hence Mondays post only coming on today ***tsk tsk***.

Or the recession really is no more and companies are spending more.

Perhaps the stars were just not in alignment in my favour.

Or God just got tired of my silent screams and decided its time for that break.All in His own time.

Whatever it is, it seems to be working friends and I am so glad. I hope you’re having a bit of good fortune on your side too. I’m sure we could all do withsome for the year.

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I’Ve Gone MIA

Friends through no fault of my own I have gone off the radar. I had a virus that’crashed all my gadgets. This happened last week already. I am typing this from my iPhone and so I apologize for the shortness of it. I hope to start bloggng soon again. At least as soon as I return to SA and fix everything. Thanks for coming by and I do miss you all.

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